How You Can Completely Modernize You Current Pool System In 2025

Why “modernized” matters

Over the last few years, the status quo for pool equipment has fundamentally changed.

Historically for most people, running your pool equipment meant racking up big utility bills (think pumps and heaters). Proper upkeep meant constant labor to keep the pool clean and balanced. And unless you recently built or remodeled, it was not feasible to have your pool system app-connected, automated, and remotely monitored.

Now things have leapt forward, and a modernized pool system is in reach for the vast majority of "typical" pools - which until now have been stuck using decades-old technology. The payoff of a modernized pool system is real: up to 85% lower energy use, up to 190 hours saved annually (estimated), and water that always stays swimmable, comfortable, & crystal-clear. Plus, you can get automatic alerts to notify you when your attention is needed. That's the way things should be!

We've had a number of previous guides on the latest technology and important upgrades; this article provides a comprehensive picture of what a complete must-have pool system looks like, as well as a number of cutting-edge options that can make pool ownership ridiculously easy.

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Example of annual usage costs for a typical 17,000 gallon pool in Florida

Chlorine Tablets

+Single Speed Pump

$1,690.00

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+Single Speed Pump

$1,089.00

Salt Chlorinator

+Variable Speed Pump (VSP)

$376.00

Save $600 with SCG or $1,300 with SCG+VSP*

*Based on chlorine prices as of May 2022 and Energy Star Savings calculator for a 2THP VSP vs a 1.5HP SSP with 12 hour run time

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Realistic Must-Haves

For those of us pool owners with a basic setup which find ourselves looking for a way forward, we've come up with the Eight Essentials. You don't have to have just built a pool or renovated to have the latest technology (or face the complexity and very high cost that used to go along with it). The Eight Essentials are upgrades that are realistic for many pools which have older, simple pool systems and require lots of manual work. These Eight Essentials can give you a modern pool system where things work together to make life easy for you, and often provide a return on your investment. You can be sure that once you upgrade to the items on this list, their convenience and savings will be more than justified.

High-Impact Optional Upgrades

For those of us that are dreamers who are ready to push even further past the essentials, wanting to consider everything that is possible with the latest technology - we've also come up with eight recommendations designed to make pool ownership as ideal as possible. These solutions span the range from equipment in the pool system, components used in and around the pool itself, as well as the latest water care products. Whereas the Eight Essential upgrades provide a holistic pool equipment system with optimal operation, each of these optional upgrades help ensure that the way you experience your pool is ideal - making the times that you still do need to deal with your pool effortless, and providing water that is safe, pure, & beautiful.

The Eight Essential Pool System Upgrades In 2025

1. An App For Your Pool System:
Notifications, Control & Automation

The fact is that every major home system is now available with an app (letting them work better, more smartly, and giving you more information & control), and pool systems are about the last part of your home where this functionality has been made widely available. Many pool owners have resigned themselves to have things be out-of-sight/out-of-mind and use manual controls and timers to run their pool system; hopefully you have written off the possibility having something better. Its now easier than ever to have your pool system at your finger tips via an app: know exactly how your pool equipment is working, get need-to-know alerts when your attention is required, control and change the way your equipment is working, create schedules, see your pool system's data & history, and more.

Having an app for your pool system is not new by any means. Newly built or renovated pools may have had automation systems and networking hubs added as a part of the construction plan; with the right combination of components and very technical setup, very complex internet-connected pool systems have been possible. Do-it-yourself innovators have also been able to use a combination of individual smart products to patch together an internet-connect pool system, often requiring multiple apps. But for the majority of pools out there which have simple setups, there are now a number of great products that have lowered the difficulty and complexity involved, making it possible for average pool owners to upgrade to smart & connected equipment

Admittedly, this is the one item on our Eight Essentials list that isn't required for the physical operation of your pool system, but arguably its the most essential if you want to modernize your pool. Having internet-enabled, app-controlled, smart pool equipment changes the way YOU deal with your pool equipment, and opens the door for you to be able to use your pool equipment in a more optimal way.

You've got a number of options depending on what you are looking for. If you want to expand your capability gradually and build up to both chemical-automation and equipment-automation, consider the CORE CONTROL. If you're just looking to add a WIFI-enabled salt chlorinator, consider the ChlorSync with PoolSync Controller. If you want a stand-alone automation center, consider the Poolside Tech Attendant or Pentair Intellicenter. Within this range of options, you'll find the kind of app control you're looking for.

CircuPool CORE-CONTROL Automation Platform

From $1799

ALL-IN-ONE
SOLUTION

ChlorSync® Gen II with WIFI PoolSync

From $1527

APP CONTROLLED
SALT SYSTEM ONLY

PoolSide Tech® Attendant Automation System

From $2500

OPEN-SOURCE
AUTOMATION

Pentair IntelliCenter® Control System

From $2000

BRAND-SPECIFIC
AUTOMATION

2. Electronic Chlorine Generator

If you're still manually buying, storing, handling, measuring & adding chlorine, there is simply a better way at this point.

Electronically generating the chlorine that your pool needs, automatically everyday when the pool pump runs, gives you the reliable sanitation that the pool needs and can accomplish this for a fraction of the cost over the long run of traditional chemical chlorine maintenance. We've written extensively about how chlorine generators work and the benefits of chlorine generators, be sure to check out our Complete Guide For Future Salt Pool Owners.

A chlorine generator is the heart of any modern pool system. It keeps the water blue and swimmable without the level of hassle and expense that pools traditionally have otherwise required, so chlorine generators are #2 on this list of Eight Essentials. In addition to the convenience and consistency it provides, pool owners routinely slash sanitizer costs by up to 40-50% over the system's lifespan, while swimmers rave about the more natural swimming experience.

Already have a "salt pool" and use a chlorine generator? Don't skip over this! Salt chlorine generators have been around awhile and there is a wide range of technology at this point, some better, some worse. Make sure your salt chlorinator has these modern features:

• Make sure your chlorine generator has a flow switch and is able to automatically work in tandem with the variable and lower flow of a programmable VS Pump. (All pumps will be variable speed soon per Department of Energy regulations!)
• If you used a motorized pool cover, you'll want chlorine generator with a "cover sensor" option, which can automatically reduce output when the pool cover is closed.
• You want a chlorine generator with a clear cell. Some out there are still built in opaque enclosures, requiring you to disassemble your pool plumbing to check between the cell plates.
• Choose a chlorine generator with multiple internal sensors that can precisely distinguish between when the pool has a low salinity or the salt cell has scaling. (A source of confusion for users of many older models)

Whether you're ready to finally add a chlorine generator, or you've had one for years, consider one of these leading models:

3. Variable-Speed Pump (VSP)

A VSP makes a traditional single-speed pump look like a horse & buggy when compared to a modern car. While a single-speed pump runs (loudly) at full power all day despite the pool's actual needs, a VS Pump runs (quietly) at a range of speeds throughout the day. What this means is that your pool can get the optimal amount of circulation, in a way that provides superior filtration, at a fraction of the cost of a typical single-speed model (up to 80-90% less electricity in some comparisons).

Getting better circulation, better filtration, and major energy savings from a VS pump is win-win. Many people choose to upgrade when their current traditional pump is still operational. But if your exiting pump is in any way not working ideally (loud, making noises, getting hot, poor performance), putting in a VS pump is the hands down choice. Its also soon going to what all pools use - DOE efficiency rules that took effect in 2023 now make VSPs the default replacement choice.

VS Pumps are also built with motors that are better and inherently more efficient, using a totally-enclosed, fan-cooled permanent-magnet motors. Since these motors are programmable and can run at a range of speeds throughout the day, you're able to make sure its running optimally when all of the other components of your modern pool system are in use. High speeds when the pool system starts every day, when vacuuming, or when water features are in use. Lower speeds for enhanced long-term operation of filters, heat pumps, and more.

4. Cyclonic Pre-Filter

No one likes to do filter maintenance, especially when you have to deal with cleaning out the inside of the pool filter. So why wouldn't a modern pool system use a piece of equipment that makes it so that filter cleaning are a rare event?

Installed just ahead of the main filter, cyclone prefilters literally spin debris out of the water, removing up to 80% of solids before they ever clog your cartridges, D.E. grid, or sand filter. Even better, the centrifugal filtration action doesn't require any filter media, moving parts, or wearable components to replace. Owners report 4-to-6-times longer intervals between cleanings and thousands of gallons saved on backwash water.

Cyclonic Prefilters are included at #4 in the Eight Essentials because a modern pool system should be benefitting from two-stage filtration (an effective strategy used in many other filtering applications). For pool systems, a cyclonic prefilter takes care of a large amount of the filtering workload. However, because of its simple yet sophisticated design, it doesn't restrict flow as it operates virtually at all. Best of all, the sediment that it captures is easily cleaned out in moments by turning a built-in purge valve, and only used about 4 gallons of water to do so. Every bit of dirt that the prefilter captures never makes it to the main filter. The main filter is almost on stand by, there for back up to catch what the prefilter doesn't. So the main filter gets filled up much more slowly, so that it might only need attention seasonally or even annually for some pools and climates.

5. pH Control System

If you ask professionals and pool owners who stay on top of things, they'll tell you that controlling pH is one of the most overlooked yet critical aspects of pool care. pH is arguably the most pivotal balance level - its balance significantly affects the rest of the water chemistry, and directly involved in some of the main risks to pool corrosion, swimmer discomfort, as well as hard-to-deal with scale problems. Put simply, pH needs to stay on-target constantly, and doing so protects those that you care about and the large investment that your pool represents.

A modern pool system can automatically take care of this - which is why pH Controllers are at #5 in our Eight Essentials.

pH Control systems can keep your balance in the 7.4-7.6 pH sweet spot using one of two methods:

• CO2 infusion - Small amounts of CO2 are infused into the water automatically every day, which effectively and naturally keeps pH from climbing. When set for your pool size and needs, you can go all season with a consistently balanced pH.
• Sensor-controlled acid injection - Small amounts of Muriatic Acid are dosed into the water on demand, automated by a pH sensor and based on the pool's current needs. Since the system is always checking for the pH level, you can be sure of constantly balanced pH.

Both methods of pH control are highly effective, offering simplicity on one hand and smart operation on the other. Either way, when using a pH control system in concert with a chlorine generator, you can rest easy that your two most important water balance levels are staying reliably in range and the practical chemical maintenance of the pool can be much more seasonal and hands-off.

6. Vital Sensors

Like mentioned in #1 App Control above, pools are one of the few remaining major home systems where we lower our expectations and accept less. Most of us would never accept a home AC / Heat system that didn't have a themorstat to let the system run optimally; you pool system should have all the sensors it's needs to get critical data. Read below about ways that the pool system could be self-regulating and made to be running optimally. Its clear why these vital sensors are #6 on our list of the Eight Essentials for modern pools.

• Flow Meter:
• Like the example above of a HVAC system without a thermostat, if you don't know your pool pump's flow rate, then its extremely likely you're either wasting large amounts of energy or your circulation system is being under served. Even more so with variable speed pumps, how would you know what combinations of pump speeds (RPM's) and run times is right for your pool? You have to know your flow to answer that! A Flow Meter can be a simple addition to the pool system, and it unlocks all of the potential efficiency that your VS pump can be providing, and can also make sure your other pool equipment are getting the flow they need across all of a VS pump's different programmed speeds. For its small cost, Flow Meter has the potential to have a very high return on investment!
• ORP Sensor:
• ORP (oxygen reduction potential) is the true measure of the water's sanitation level and tracks your chlorine level. Adding an ORP sensor which is able to integrate with your pool controls system or app allows you to get reading of this vital spec, and the ideal setup automates the chlorine generator, allowing it to only run on demand based on the actual needs of the water. While for many, adjustments to the chlorine generator are typically seasonal, this smart setup not only lets you rest easy that the chlorine output is always adjusting to seasonal changes, but that the chlorine output is compensating in real time for sudden changes that might happen after heavy pool usage, storms, etc... That can save you from some tough situations where you are caught unaware and having to fight cloudy or green water!
• pH Sensor:
• As mentioned in #5 pH Control Systems above, a pH sensor is another incredibly valuable measurement to be automatically tracking. Adding a pH sensor which is able to integrate with your control system or app allows you to get readings and notifications you need to know about. And if using acid injection, the pH sensor allows you to automate your pool setup to reliably keep on-target balance.

7. Heat / Cool Temperature Control

The point of a modern pool setup is so that you can enjoy the pool more and minimize maintenance or hassle. Nothing puts a stop to pool enjoyment quite like cold water - or for many, water that feels as hot as the air during the summer! Having both heat and cool temperature control is #7 on our list of Eight Essentials because its now possible to achieve this in a very affordable way, extending your swim season and ensuring perfect comfort, while using surprisingly little energy. If you think changing the water temperature means huge utility bills like with gas heaters, you'll love to learn that you can keep your pool water comfortable at a fraction of the cost.

Reliable pool comfort comes from modern Heat Pumps, the leading models having the ability to both heat and cool the water (Pool Chillers are also available for dedicated cooling in the hottest climates). Heat Pump technology transfers energy instead of burning it up like a gas heater, which is what lets it shift your pool temperature up to be a comfortably warm in the spring and fall, and shift your pool temperature down to be refreshingly cool in the peak of summer. Top heat pump models use variable speed compressors and inverter technology which requires minimal electricity while in operation.

If you want to swim more throughout the year and never have to fear that you won't enjoy your experience in the water, the modern solution for comfort is controlling temperature with heat pump technology.

8. Pool Cleaner Robots

Without a solution to keep the pool clean from debris, leaves, dirt, and other unsightly things that are left behind in the pool, even the most beautiful pool can become an eyesore. The solution for a modern pool system is to automate this chore, using the latest technology to intelligently clean, vacuum, and scrub every surface of the pool. Pool cleaning robots complete our list of the Eight Essentials because they can be massively time-saving and are one of the single easiest ways to upgrade your pool setup.

Robotic pool cleaners have had light-speed developments in technology within the last decade. Pool cleaners used to mostly be "dumb" devices that randomly cleaned the pool (and added significant operational expense by requiring the pool pump to run), while also filling the pool with long tangling hoses. Now, robotic pool cleaners are self-contained, self-powered devices that have a range of smart technology to ensure pool cleaning coverage. From smart cleaning algorithms, to precise pool mapping & navigation path creation, to sensor and optical scanning for debris - robotic pool cleaners make traditional suction-side and pressure-side cleaners pale in comparison.

A robotic cleaner is a must-have to ensure a spotless pool, and all you need to do essentially is drop it in the pool and plug it in (unless you go cordless, keep reading). Once you're ready to get the of best pool cleaning technology, there are two routes you can go to get the convenience and operation that you want to achieve:

• Corded Robotic Cleaners - These are the default choice for automatic pool cleaning. On the whole, nothing can rival the suction power and unlimited run time of a corded robotic pool cleaner. Suction power is what ensures both effective cleaning and effortless navigation of walls, steps, and other water features. Being able to run your pool cleaner indefinitely also ensures that you are able to get the cleaning you need, when you need it. Another hugely important aspect of corded cleaners is that there is never a question of connectivity; their power source is out of the water and able to stay connected to wi-fi so that app-enabled models can get activated on-demand if needed, have their settings or scheduling easily updated, and more.
• Cordedless Robotic Cleaners - If you like everything about robotic cleaning and then think, "But the cord...", it's understandable. You just may not want to see the pool cleaner's cord, and the good news is that battery technology has come very far, very fast. Cordless robotic pool cleaners are absolutely a viable option now. Many have acceptable run times and suction power, so the main trade off is: you'll need to regularly retrieve it from the pool for charging, and you typically won't be able to control it or access it via app while it is under water. Even there, some models have solutions for that. For retrieval, some models can return to the surface (a couple models can even stay there indefinitely), so that you don't have to fish out the cleaner with a hook on a pole. For accessibility and control, some models use a special remote that uses laser light to send signals through the water, where some also have a floating pod that stays on the surface to maintain wireless connectivity.

High-Impact Optional Upgrades

1. Electronic Water Testing

#1 on our list of high-impact upgrades is an electronic solution to testing your pool's water chemistry. Ask most pool owners what their pool chemistry is, and for many the attitude is "I don't know, and I don't want to know". This is understandable, because traditionally testing your pool chemicals is a fairly major hassle (and you often get bad news). But every modern pool owner should be able to test their chemical balance on demand, quickly and effortlessly. Your modern pool system should be helping to keep things in line too, and since an electronic tester makes it easy to test frequently, you'll get good news more often!

Electronic pool testers provide a range of options, from a narrowly-focused digital salinity tester, to an electronic tester for your key balance levels (ORP/Chlorine, pH, salinity), to a comprehensive testing solution for your total pool balance.

Whichever options you choose, make sure an electronic pool tester is a part of your pool care kit. It's never been easier to do your own testing, without trips to the pool store or test kits that are hard to understand or use.

2. Ozone or UV Systems

For those that want to maximize their water purity, minimize the need for chlorination, and always ensure beautiful & clear water, UV and Ozone systems are #2 on our list of optional high-impact upgrades. These two alternative pool sanitation methods can never replace chlorine, but they can achieve a majority of the purification that the pool needs without leaving behind a chemical residual. Once you're ready to get the of best possible water quality, you can choose either (or even both) of these systems to benefit your swimmers:

• UV Purification - These systems are essentially self-contained and ready to go once connected to your pool system. Pool water passes through their large internal chamber where high-intensity UV light deactivates microorganisms so they can't reproduce. This sterilization greatly reduces the chlorine demand, and leaves behind absolutely zero residual.
• Ozone Purification - These systems infuse ozone into the pool water passing through, which is a powerful oxidizer and sanitizer. Ozone is able to very quickly destroy even chlorine resistant micro-organisms as well as organic waste. Ozone can typically achieve a majority of the pool sanitation, and also has the benefit of acting as a micro-flocculant (clarifier) which greatly boosts the pool water's appearance and clarity.

3. Robotic Pool Skimmer



Robotic Skimmers are #3 on our list of optional high-impact upgrades. Every pool might not need one of these, but if you're a pool owner with trees near enough to your pool that you constantly see the water covered with unsightly leaves, then your choice is constant labor to net them, ignore the leaves till they sink and decompose (spiking your chlorine demand and and potentially staining the pool surface), or get modern and let a purpose-built device fix your problem.

Robotic Pool Skimmers can use solar power to provide indefinite protection from leaves and other organic debris floating in the pool. Like their cousin robotic cleaners that vacuum and scrub the pool, Robotic Skimmers can intelligently navigate the entire surface of your pool. This means you can forget about patrolling your pool with a long pole net, and let tried-and-true robotic cleaning technology also deal with your pool's surface and waterline.

4. Video Pool Entry Alarm



Pool safety is always of prime importance, and since every pool is unique you typically need pool safety solutions that are tailored to your setup. Now there are new tools you can add to your plan for pool safety that are easily added to virtually any pool and provide a significant layer of protection.

Just like many people have adopted video doorbells for their home as a modern home security solution, AI-powered video pool alarms are now available, which can be easily added and use similar technology to provide a virtual "second set of eyes" on the pool.

Video-based pool alarms are versatile in where they can get placed, simple to install, and best of all they provide pro-active protection. Traditional pool alarms make an audible alert once there is already a problem - they work by detecting something falling into the pool, and you have to be near enough to hear sound that they make. Instead, video pool alarms "watch" for when there is intentional movement towards the pool by a person who shouldn't be nearby the pool at the time; instead of a loud sound, you get an immediate alert to your mobile device wherever you are.

If you don't already have a way to keep a constant close eye on your pool area, consider adding a video-based pool alarm for an important layer of protection as well as taking another responsible step towards keeping peace of mind.

5. Handheld Electronic Vacuum



If you use #8 in our list of Eight Essentials, a robotic pool cleaner, ideally that will keep the pool consistently dirt-free over time. However, life happens, and sometimes you might have an immediate need to clean one spot in your pool. That's where handheld electronic pool vacuums come in - #5 on our list of optional upgrades.

Let's say someone drops something yucky in pool, or the dog cooled off in the water after rolling around in the yard and left dirt up and down the pool steps. Sometimes that seems to happen before guests are coming over, so say you want to clean it up fast. Rather than having your robotic pool cleaner tackle the whole pool which can take some time (even if it has a quick clean mode), a handheld electronic pool vacuum would let you clean up that pool mess directly, efficiently and without any hassle. Put your vacuum on the end of its pool, press a button, and suck up the dirt.

Using an electronic vacuum is also a huge improvement over traditional pool vacuuming. No need to get a big tangle of pool hose out, connect it to your skimmer, and lug that all around. For some, just the amount of space saved by not needing to store all that pool hose can make an electronic pool vacuum worth it!

6. High Capacity Tool-Free Filter



Admittedly, none of us want to think about or deal with our pool filter. While its a critical part of your pool system, there certainly isn't much exciting about it. And if you use #4 on our list of Eight Essentials, a cyclonic pre-filter, you shouldn't have to mess with your pool filter that much anyway.

But that is where #6 on our list of high-impact optional upgrades really shines. Having a High Capacity Tool-Free pool filter means that when you do have to mess with it, it's surprisingly a rather painless experience.

For a modern pool, you want a high capacity filter because that means the filter's internal capacity is large enough that it takes a long time before enough dirt and debris has accumulated that the filter's pressure gauge goes up enough that you need to clean it. Bigger is better here.

You want a tool-free filter because that means its been designed to open easily, get disassembled easily, and get put back together easily. If you've ever had an older filter with metal bands that get rusty, and it takes all of your effort and care to take things apart and then properly align them after a filter cleaning, you know why you want something with a better design. Tool-free filters should require minimal effort to open, with smooth action, and with components that guide reassembly and ensure the filter can safely operate again after maintenance.

7. Blended Borates



You may or may not have been waiting on the edge of your seat for the next historical advancement in pool water chemistry, but either way its arguably here in the form of Borates. Blended Borates, an ideal form for use in swimming pools, is #7 on our list of high-impact options for your modern pool.

To put it simply, it appears that pool chemical care has had a missing element all these years. You've probably spent a lot of effort over the years keeping the pool pH in balance, and you might have been told how important Alkalinity is to "buffer" or slow the rate of pH change. Alkalinity does a good job at that, as far as pH decreases go.

Have you tended to fight climbing pH instead? Then all these years, what you've been missing is Borates, which stabilize pH and help prevent pH increases.

If pool chemistry doesn't get you excited, what you need to know is that Borates are a part of modern water balance and it takes away a lot of pool chemical hassle. Blended Borates are a form that are ready to add to swimming pools, and they don't have to be added continually (just to top things off if you drain some water or winterize). Best of all, Borates help prevent algae growth and also improve the look and feel of water! Take the opportunity to modernize your pool balance by adding Borates, and you'll be glad you did.

8. Non-Chlorine Shock



When things like heavy pool usage or storms happen, even a high-performance pool system may need a little help. If find your pool suddenly looking less than pristine in these situations, there's a more modern solution than dumping chlorine shock into the pool. Oxygen-based non-chlorine shock is #8 on our list because its the smart choice to quickly fix such pool problems.

Traditionally, shocking the pool makes the chlorine level go through the roof for a couple days and its not safe to swim until those levels get back to normal. Non-chlorine shock made with OXONE (activated oxygen) is fast-acting and highly effective at oxidizing non-living organic waste, allowing you to swim again in as little as 15 minutes!

Non-chlorine shock is the perfect thing to keep on the shelf in case you need it - its effectiveness only goes down by about 2% over the course of a year! (Compare that to chlorine products which can lose up to 90% effectiveness)



Where Things May Be Going

1. Digital Filter Pressure Gauge



Continuing with the idea that your pool system should alert you to the things you need to know about, one of the very core parts of your pool system, the filter, still uses analog technology that's centuries old.

The pressure gauge on the top of your filter provides you with critical information. When your filter pressure rises 7-10 lbs above its baseline "clean filter" pressure, it means you need to take action. If you don't clean your filter once this happens, your pool flow is being hampered and your recirculating all of your pool water through a dirty filter; this is causing your pump to work harder than it needs, wasting energy, and causing excessive wear on your pool system. So... how often do you check the needle on your pool filter's gauge?

Ideally, we would all have a digital pressure gauge, and it would be able to send you an alert when you need to take action. Depending on your pool's size, filter size, your pool environment & usage, the frequency that you need to do this can vary significantly. That's the perfect situation for smart equipment to provide an automatic solution - telling you exactly when you need to attend to the pool filter.

The technology appears to be emerging. How soon until it becomes widely used in our pool systems?


CirrusSense Wireless Pressure Gauge for Pools
Bluetooth Enabled

2. Magnetic Induction Pool Lights



Pool lighting is an art which can dramatically enhance the backyard environment. However, it can also be the source of tremendous expense and laborious difficulty.

When building a pool, its estimated that up to 50% of the equipment cost is now attributed to lighting as many designers now use a plethora nicheless LED lights in the construction plan. And surprising to many, LED's used in pools can have shorter lifespans than typical LED lighting, which let heat dissipate unlike what happens with pool LED lights that require sealed enclosures.

But whether or not you use nicheless or traditional niche pool lighting, all pool lights will eventually fail, and replacement can then become a whole new layer of trouble. Draining the pool, and potentially having to rewire, mean that serious work can be involved.

You probably wouldn't opt for something like that if you faced a similar situation with your household lighting, so in the future, there are powerful reasons for pool lighting to use better technology and avoid much of this! Within the last number of years, some manufacturers in the industry have developed lights which are powered by magnetic induction. This means that there is no wire connecting the power source behind the light and the actual light screwed into the wall - power is transmitted via magnetism just like popular phone chargers using the same technology.

Since pool lights powered by magnetic induction have no physical connection to power, you can easily remove and replace them without draining the pool, almost as easily as the lights in your house! Potentially more important, induction lighting is able to eliminate the risk of electrocution within the pool.

While the technology is emerging and has been recognized and used by pool professionals and pool owners alike, magnetic induction pool lights haven't yet become the mainstream choice. Whether your looking to retrofit your lighting or your considering lights for a pool construction or renovation project, make sure you consider magnetic induction lighting. If you think ahead about when you need to replace your lights, "future you" might be serious glad you did.


SR Smith RGB Mod-Lite
Magnetic Induction


Putting It All Together

An example of how well things can work with a modernized pool system.

Picture this workflow one Saturday in May:

1. Sunrise – The automation system wakes the VS Pump, near-silently circulating the pool water. The Heat Pump detects a slight chill in the water and activates, gently warming the pool to a comfortable 82 degrees throughout the day.
2. Morning – The Robotic Skimmer catches some leaves that fell overnight. The ORP probe reports completely sanitized water; pH controller adds a whisper of CO2 to maintain perfect balance.
3. Midday – Kids jump in to a pool that's looking spotless (for now). ORP dips, and the Chlorine Generator cell ramps from 30% to 60%. The kids leave the pool with plenty of dirt and grass clippings in the water.
4. Early-afternoon – The Video Pool Entry Alarm spots one of the kids (who's supposed to be napping) heading towards the pool. You get an instant alert on your mobile device so you can step in immediately. You're able to make sure no one swims unattended, and you also save nap time.
5. Late-afternoon – When your spouse was doing something in the backyard, a cable accidentally got disconnected on the pool system. The system notices and alerts you with a push notification. Instead of sitting idle for days until someone noticed, you fixed it and there was no downtime.
6. Evening – The pool water is crystal clear as the Magnetic Induction Pool Lights turn on, having been fully purified and clarified by the Ozone Generator throughout the day.
7. Overnight – The Robotic Cleaner runs its programmed cycle to take care of what got tracked into the pool today; it captures the grass clippings that settled in the corners of the pool. Meanwhile, the Cyclone Pre-filter captures the day’s dirt & sediment. The VS Pump's programmed schedule ends, and the whole pool is ready for another day.



That’s the promise of a fully modernized system: less babysitting, lower utility bills, and water that’s always ready when you are. A pool system that works. Upgrade piece-by-piece or aim for the full package—either way, today’s tech makes “set it and forget it” more attainable than ever.

Ready to get started? Our friendly support team are pool experts, and can help you size equipment and map out a plan for a pool system that fit your needs. We love to discount, so ask about our package deals! Drop us a line and let’s make your pool the smartest spot on the block.